Robot Soccer Challenge
Can you program robots to play soccer?Copyright 2004 Microsoft Corporation, One Microsoft Way, Redmond, WA 98052-6399 USA. All rights reserved. http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/images/results.aspx?qu=soccer&ex=1#ai:MP900422624|
Students learn how two LEGO® MINDSTORMS® EV3 intelligent bricks can be programmed so that one can remotely control the other. They learn about the components and functionality in the (provided) controller and receiver programs. When its buttons are pressed, the brick assigned as the remote control device uses the controller program to send Bluetooth® messages. When the taskbot/brick assigned as the receiver receives certain Bluetooth messages, it moves, as specified by the receiver program. Students examine how the programs and devices work in tandem, gaining skills as they play "robot soccer." As the concluding activity in this unit, this activity provides a deeper dimension of understanding programming logic compared to previous activities in this unit and introduces the relatively new and growing concept of wireless communication. A PowerPoint® presentation, pre/post quizzes and a worksheet are provided.
Programming two robots to send and receive messages from each other and act accordingly is a fairly involved task. Engineers designed Bluetooth Smart technology—a wireless communication system that supports this type of messaging—to perform tasks such as sending your heart rate stats to your smartphone. Before Bluetooth technology, engineers developed other means of remote communication using radio waves to control remote devices, such as radio-controlled vehicles. The Mars Rover is one example of how advanced remote communication technology and robots have become. Software engineers play a key role in developing programs that enable remote communication to control the Mars Rover. Understanding how these programs works challenges students to think carefully about the logic used in a remote control program and strengthens their abilities to confront difficult tasks systematically.
After this activity, students should be able to:
- Explain how two robots can be individually programmed to use Bluetooth technology to interact with each other.